Chapter 79: Waiting After Half a Year

Within Yunyang City, there are naturally places for cultivators to rest and practice, but the prices are so exorbitant that one can only shake their head; although the two of them are traveling on public funds, the Xuanbing Sect has no concept of reimbursement.

Therefore, the two of them are still staying at an ordinary inn. As the sky just turned dark, Ruan Xing informed her senior brother, "Senior brother, I'm going out for a stroll."

Ruan Xing called out to Sword Lai within her mental connection. After leaving the city, she wandered aimlessly, on one hand waiting for Sword Lai, and on the other, waiting for the Demon Cultivators who might or might not appear.

Nearly two hours later, Sword Lai finally responded to her call, crossing through layers of mountain passes to reach the outskirts of Yunyang City.

The pure white youth appeared from the air, one side of his black eyes as deep as the sea, making him appear to have a few more human-like emotions.

Ruan Xing reached out and touched his face, her Divine Sense probing into Sword Lai's unresisting body. Feeling the Yin Qi within him, which had already reached the strength of nearly Foundation Establishment Mid-stage, she couldn't help but say happily, "That's great, I feel much more at ease seeing you."

The corners of Sword Lai's mouth twitched slightly, as if he were smiling.

He took two sheets of paper from his collar and handed them to Ruan Xing.

Ruan Xing took them and looked; it was the progress report Hu San had given her, only the handwriting looked hurried, as if he had been dragged out of sleep by Sword Lai to write it. With this image appearing in her mind, Ruan Xing smiled knowingly and continued reading.

Hu San and Ruan Tao had both tried the Basic Qi Refining Mantra she sent back, and both had developed Qi Sensation after about ten days. This kind of power was very different from True Qi, but they didn't know how to use it, and they were asking whether they should promote this new cultivation method within the Red Head Gang.

Ruan Tao had wanted to see her once, but Hu San had made up an excuse to delay it.

After being taught a lesson by Ruan Tao, Ruan Fu's relatives didn't dare to come and trouble Ruan Mu again, but there were still some rumors reaching Ruan Mu's ears from time to time. Ruan Mu lived alone, and although she did not lack Silver to use, she ultimately felt lonely.

Xu Can, who was being raised by Wang Dongxing's family, had been studying diligently for over a month and had already passed the Child Scholar exam, but he only had half a year's worth of antidote left.

The Red Head Gang had been managed very well these past two months, and some businesses had even established connections with Huaining City, with profits reaching as much as eight thousand taels of Silver. Hu San had stored it all in her private treasury, to be sent to her whenever it was convenient.

He needed to find a place like a mass grave or cemetery for Sword Lai. Young Master Liu had provided him with a spot; it was a place where the Patrol Security Division used to imprison and execute death-row inmates. The Yin Qi was very heavy, and Sword Lai liked it very much.

Finally, the letter expressed deep gratitude to Ruan Xing, saying that Sword Lai's spiritual intelligence had recovered significantly. Because he could not speak, Hu San had taught Sword Lai to write, and Sword Lai had learned quite a few characters.

Ruan Xing was a little surprised, "Sword Lai, you can write now?"

Sword Lai nodded gently, looking somewhat embarrassed, and picked up a small pebble to scratch on the ground.

【Young Miss】

This was how Hu San addressed her.

"Well written." Ruan Xing praised with curved, smiling eyes.

Sword Lai's expression in the mental connection was also clearer. He told Ruan Xing that he had already grown accustomed to his new Puppet nature. Once the Yin Qi in his body was fully digested, his strength would likely reach the Golden Core Stage, at which point his Ghost Escape Technique would be able to take people along to hide for a short time.

Ruan Xing had been coveting his Ghost Escape Technique anyway, and now it was even better; she could enjoy it herself. If she encountered danger in the future, she could let Sword Lai take her and run, greatly increasing her safety.

Moreover, in the future, if she wanted to bring Ruan Tao out of the Boundary Tree, she wouldn't have to wait for the Tailwind Eagle of the Six Suns Study; she could just have Sword Lai bring her out. It was only a pity that he couldn't carry someone for long, and he could only carry one person at a time.

In addition, he was also learning new Magic Arts, some of the more powerful offensive techniques from the Nether Ghost Record. In this way, Sword Lai's shortcomings were also compensated for.

"Not bad." Ruan Xing was very gratified, standing on tiptoe to reach out and pat Sword Lai's head.

His soft white hair was combed into a small, half-tied braid that hung down, looking neat and tidy.

She tucked the letter back into Sword Lai's embrace.

Sword Lai tilted his head slightly, appearing somewhat puzzled—was there no reply letter? "Even if I wrote one, it wouldn't be received," Ruan Xing said indifferently.

This was a Simulation... when dawn came, she would end this Simulation.

And in reality, she dared not and could not summon Sword Lai over, because he was a Puppet of the Ghost path, and he also carried the Hanshan Ink Marrow.

Whether seen by her senior brother or discovered by Demon Cultivators, it would be a very dangerous matter. She did not yet have the strength to take such a big risk.

Ruan Xing sighed and asked, "Sword Lai, if I hadn't called you over this time, how much longer do you think you would need to learn those Magic Arts and reach the Golden Core Stage?"

Sword Lai stalled for a moment, then lowered his head as if feeling ashamed, conveying the message of at least half a year.

Half a year... that was just after the Golden Terrace Secret Realm. That was perfect; she also planned to leave the Xuanbing Sect after the Golden Terrace Secret Realm.

"You go back first." Ruan Xing instructed. Sword Lai obediently hid into the air and left Yunyang City.

And Ruan Xing, shrouded in moonlight, flew on her Sword, clearing her mind and wandering while blowing in the cold wind.

By the time the sky was faintly bright, the surroundings remained calm. Neither had a Demon Cultivator come to kill her, nor had her senior brother come to question her.

Ruan Xing breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that coming out of the Sect was safe. She then ended the Simulation.

After returning to reality, her senior brother was looking at her intently, waiting for her answer. Ruan Xing said casually, "Senior brother, let's go to the Red Garment Pavilion."

"Alright, the Red Garment Pavilion is close; we can make a round trip in a day." Her senior brother readily agreed.

The two of them flew there on their Swords. Only then did Ruan Xing realize she had held some stereotypes; the Red Garment Pavilion was not an improper Sect, otherwise it wouldn't have been able to operate in Nanzhou for so many years.

There are many female cultivators in the Red Garment Pavilion. It is said that the cultivator who founded it did so to give female cultivators of the world a chance to establish themselves.

Except for large Sects like the Xuanbing Sect, the Zhengyi Sect and the Six Suns Study basically do not accept female cultivators. According to their own explanations, it is because their cultivation methods are too rigid and fierce, making them unsuitable for female cultivators.

The Sect's blessed land of the Red Garment Pavilion looks much smaller, surrounding a clear water lake. Above it are nothing but pavilions and towers; above the water surface, bridges and corridors wind around, and stringed instruments play in harmony. When Ruan Xing and her senior brother arrived at the gate, female cultivators came to receive them.

They even met the Pavilion Master of the Red Garment Pavilion directly... a female cultivator at the Golden Core Stage.

Ruan Xing was a little flattered that a Sect leader would personally receive two Foundation Establishment cultivators. Her senior brother, however, had no change in expression, looking as if he were accustomed to it.

After conveying the few words Elder Xu had instructed, the Pavilion Master solemnly agreed, stating that she would definitely investigate the female cultivators in the Pavilion thoroughly and would never give the Demon Sect any opportunity to exploit.

Then they took their leave.

"It's over?" Ruan Xing asked her senior brother blankly.

"Yes, it's just going through the motions," her senior brother smiled and replied casually, "Let's go, back to the Sect." In the days that followed, Ruan Xing's life was calm and without waves.

Every day, besides going to the External Affairs Hall to check in, she stayed in her room drawing talismans and practicing.

Ten days later, her senior brother did not break his promise and personally took her to a small trade fair where Outer Sect Disciples gathered. Inside, it was basically barter, with Outer Sect Disciples trading various scraps obtained from completing Sect missions.

However, there were also those willing to use Spirit Stones to purchase talismans and Pills, and the prices were much lower than those sold in towns.

Ruan Xing didn't mind; after all, they were just first-grade talismans, and it was quite good to be able to sell them. She exchanged them for twenty Low-grade Spirit Stones and some new materials for drawing talismans, then stopped.

At the trade fair, she also accidentally learned news about Qin Yi and Zhao Fengchun. Zhao Fengchun had already received compensation, but she had left all that compensation to Qin Yi and left the Sect herself. After Qin Yi woke up, he ignored his unhealed injuries and also left the Sect to find Zhao Fengchun. Since then, the two of them had disappeared without a trace.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, three months had passed.

During these three months, Ruan Xing had received a Sect monthly stipend of three hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones, three bottles of Naqi Pill, and one hundred and fifty Contribution Points. Added to her original one hundred and fifty-five Low-grade Spirit Stones, plus the Spirit Stones she had accumulated over this period from drawing low-grade talismans, she had a total of five hundred and fifteen.

Lu Jin had not cut off contact either, occasionally coming to chat with her under the pretext of being bored, showing concern, and telling interesting stories. As time went on, she, Lu Jin, and her office colleague, the senior brother Wu Xing, had become superficially familiar friends.

Xie Huai, however, had gone quiet. If Lu Jin hadn't mentioned in passing during a chat that the popular male cultivator of the Outer Sect had finally reached Foundation Establishment, she would have suddenly realized that the three-month deadline had arrived.

Since Xie Huai had already begun to act, she could no longer delay; after checking in, Ruan Xing said a word to her senior brother and returned to her residence early.

The remaining points were enough for four more Text Simulations, but Ruan Xing did not rush to top up; instead, she mapped out a route and began the simulation.

【Simulation in progress】

At age six, you exchange all your Contribution Points for Naqi Pills and use Spirit Stones to activate a Spirit-Gathering Array in the Sect's quiet room, beginning to cultivate diligently.

A few days later, the Jin Tai Dao Discussion begins, and many fellow disciples at the Foundation Establishment stage sign up; you ignore this and focus on your cultivation, and while Xie Huai feels somewhat puzzled by your behavior of not going to the Golden Terrace Secret Realm, he does nothing.

Disciples from the Central Province arrive shortly after, and they are invited to watch the finals of the Jin Tai Dao Discussion.

One month later, the Jin Tai Dao Discussion ends, and thirty outstanding disciples are selected to enter the Golden Terrace Secret Realm alongside the elite disciples from the Central Province.

You focus on your cultivation, and your cultivation level improves, but you have not yet reached the point of a breakthrough.

Three months later, a major incident seems to have occurred within the Sect; not a single disciple who entered the Golden Terrace Secret Realm has returned, and the Sect Leader is furious.

Many high-level Cultivators from the Central Province Xuanbing Sect arrive, and the entire Sect is in a state of panic; unable to cultivate with peace of mind, you choose to leave the Xuanbing Sect.

You find a cave on a desolate, uninhabited mountain, choose it as your temporary Cave Abode, and continue to cultivate.

At age seven, you cultivate diligently, but without the boost from the Spirit-Gathering Array and with your Naqi Pills exhausted, your cultivation speed slows down significantly, and you can only consume the few remaining Spirit Stones.

At age eight, you cultivate diligently, but the Spirit Stones on your person are completely exhausted; you make a trip down the mountain, find the nearest town, and sell all your third-grade Foundation Establishment Pills, third-grade Earth Escape Talismans, and some low-grade Pills, obtaining 1,400 Low-grade Spirit Stones, which you use entirely to purchase Naqi Pills before returning to the mountain to cultivate.

You are seen while selling the third-grade Pills and talismans, and on your way back to the cave, you are intercepted and attacked by several Cultivators; with the help of your Sword, you fight desperately and finally kill them all, obtaining some Spirit Stones, ordinary Pills, and three Dharma Artifacts.

At age nine, you change to a different mountain to resume cultivation.

At age ten, your Naqi Pills and Spirit Stones are exhausted once again.

At age eleven, your cultivation speed is very slow, and you decide to return to the town, choosing to cultivate while earning Spirit Stones.

……

At age twenty-three, the town where you are located is attacked by an Evil Cultivator, and you die.

【Simulation ended】

Ruan Xing chooses the cultivation realm, and as pure Spiritual Power flows into her body, Ruan Xing feels she is one step closer to the Foundation Establishment Mid-stage.

It is just that resources are still too scarce... If only she could have infinite Spirit Stones and eat Naqi Pills as she pleased, how wonderful that would be; she estimates she could reach the Foundation Establishment Mid-stage in less than ten years.

Moreover, she now knows exactly what Xie Huai is trying to do... This kid has quite the ambition; he actually killed all the Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the Golden Terrace Secret Realm. She wonders how he managed it—could it be that he reached the Golden Core stage inside the Secret Realm and then detonated his Golden Core? That can't be right; that kid seems quite afraid of death.

No wonder he said that if she had the ability to take the treasures of the Golden Terrace Secret Realm, he wouldn't take a single one.

It turns out he never intended for anyone to leave the Golden Terrace Secret Realm at all!

Truly ruthless.

Ruan Xing has to reconsider whether or not to enter the Golden Terrace Secret Realm; once she reaches the Foundation Establishment Mid-stage, she must think it over carefully.

The main reason she is currently conducting Text Simulations is to win the Jin Tai Dao Discussion and enter the top thirty after reaching the Foundation Establishment Mid-stage, because being at the Foundation Establishment Early-stage is simply too inconspicuous and too weak among these people... Furthermore, the only attack method she can use for now is the Lianyun Sword Art; she hasn't learned other Magic Arts through simulation "skipping," and those poisons from Hongtou Daoren are basically ineffective against Cultivators, so she abandoned them long ago.

Therefore, to enter the top thirty, she must reach the Foundation Establishment Mid-stage and use her cultivation level to suppress others, in order to offset her lack of attack methods.

Ruan Xing ponders for a while whether she should continue simulating in this way or think of another method.

Wait...

The reason for the existence of the Nanzhou Xuanbing Sect is because of two Secret Realms and one Spirit Mine... She already knows what is going on with the two Secret Realms, but what about the Spirit Mine!? Could she go and exploit a bug? Ruan Xing is somewhat excited and prepares to simulate along this route once.

【Simulation in progress】

At age six, you ask Senior Sister Lu Jin about the Sect's Spirit Mine, and Lu Jin tells you that the Spirit Mine is mined by Cultivators who have committed offenses, while Inner Sect Disciples take turns supervising; if you want to go to the Spirit Mine, you can accept the Sect task of supervision.

You ask Senior Brother Wu Xing for leave, intending to leave the External Affairs Hall for the Spirit Mine; as it is the eve of the Jin Tai Dao Discussion, many fellow disciples are asking for leave to prepare for the competition, and Senior Brother Wu Xing agrees to your request, so you accept the task of guarding and supervising the Spirit Mine.

Half a month later, with the Jin Tai Dao Discussion in full swing within the Sect, you quietly leave the Sect and head to the mountain range where the Sect's Spirit Mine is located.

After passing through layers of verification, you enter the Sect's Spirit Mine, where all the Cultivators undergoing punishment are bound by Spirit Locking Ropes, unable to cultivate, and can do nothing but use their Spiritual Power to mine ore.

In addition to producing Spirit Stones of various qualities, the Spirit Mine also produces some rare, hard-textured ores used for refining Dharma Artifacts.

Thanks to Yu Zhong Qing Yao for the monthly ticket~ Thanks to Qi Sheng Qi Chang for the monthly ticket~ (End of chapter)